Bobby Turnbull delighted United fans for over six seasons with his dazzling footwork. He
started South Bank East End and Middlesbrough were hot favourites to sign him on. However,
they lost their quarry in extra-ordinary circumstances. Bradford Park Avenue arrived in
Middlesbrough to play a benefit match for the relatives of Boro’ full-back Donald McLeod,
who had died in World War One. Park Avenue were a man short and Turnbull was pursuaded to
turn out for them. He gave a great display and was signed by Bradford straight after the
match. He scored five times in a sensational war-time debut against Barnsley on New Year’s
Day 1918 and was capped by England against Ireland in October 1919 and toured South Africa
with an FA squad the following year. He scored forty-seven goals in two hundred and seven
League games in his time at Park Avenue. Leeds signed him in May 1925 and he sparkled
consistently on the right flank into his mid-thirties. He moved to Rhyl Athletic in
September 1932, retiring the following year. He later returned to Teesside to work for
Dorman, Long & Company and turned out for Smith’s Clock in the Teesside League. He died at
Middlesbrough, aged fifty-six, on 19th March 1952.